'We'll do everything to catch Crete synagogue arsonist'

Israel on Tuesday filed an official complaint with Greece over the torching of an ancient synagogue in Crete earlier this week.

The Greek Ambassador to Israel, Kyriakos Loukakis, condemned the torching of the synagogue on Saturday and stressed that the incident sparked outrage throughout the Mediterranean country. He added that an official investigation was underway.

The ambassador assured Israel that the Greek government would do everything in its power to catch the synagogue arsonists.

Unknown assailants broke into the synagogue in the city of Chania on Saturday and set fire to it, causing extensive damage to the roof, thousands of books and computers. It appeared to be the second time the synagogue had been attacked this month.

The Foreign Ministry's Deputy Director General for Western Europe, Naor Gilon, talked to Loukakis and asked him to relay a friendly request that the Greek government do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent such incidents in the future.

Gilon praised the Greek envoy for his cooperation, and told him that the Foreign Ministry intends to provide financial support for the renovation.

The head of the Jewish community in Greece said Monday he feared for the security of Jews in the country after a synagogue on the island of Crete was set on fire.

"It is an anti-Semitic act," Moses Constantinis, head of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, told Reuters. "We are worried about the security of the Jewish community and the violation of freedom of religion.